A Dama de Maio

This beautiful, lyrical movie takes the viewer into the mind of an intellectual, intelligent woman and the way life as a mother, a woman and a professional feels to her. The internal struggle of the protagonist, which is universal and gender-blind, is made very palpable by the quite, intimate atmosphere of the movie, the great cinematography and the fantastic cast. The main character of the movie is a film maker, and the footage she takes for a future movie is very effectively used to explore the different aspects of the dilemma facing her: where should one draw the line between one's individuality and the relationships with beloved ones? Through ostensible interviews with various women, the movie explores the range of answers given to this question in a touching, intelligent way.

The protagonist, a professional film maker and divorced mother of an older teenaged son must decide between seemingly incompatible options: her own need for adult love and companionship and her son's fear of losing his mother's love.

Gathering filmed interviews with a wide range of Iranian women affected by numerous restrictions in an extremely patriarchal culture, the mother ponders the choices between which she finds herself deeply ambivalent. Will she be allow guilt and her son's desire to be "the man of the house" determine her course?

Told from the mother's POV, we slowly discover the reasons why each of the characters are drawn as strongly as they are. And we don't know until the final moments just how the story will be resolved. I found this tension especially satisfying. Each has strong and legitimate reasons to fear the inevitable change which must occur between them if mother decides to prioritize her own needs.

The absence of a sound track strengthened the story's impact, making this viewer at least feel very much as if I was looking directly into an unfolding family drama. Very strong emotions, somewhat like a two-character telenovela shown here!